Mobile pantry brings food to those in need

Some people stood with their coats wrapped around them. Others sat in folding lawn chairs, covered by blankets.

Those at the front of the line had arrived as many as seven hours early to wait.

When the Gleaners truck pulled up Wednesday afternoon to AVI Food Systems on East Second Street, cheers could be heard from the crowd.

Once a month, the mobile food pantry makes its way down from Indianapolis to distribute free food to those in need. It’s been making stops in Seymour for the past year and a half.

And by the number of people waiting in line, the need is great.

Between 250 and 300 people are showing up on the third Wednesday of the month to receive an allotment of government commodities and other donated food, which is available on a first-come first-served basis until all food is handed out.

AVI is the winter location for the pantry. In the warmer months, it moves to Shields Park.

This story appears in the print edition of The Tribune. Subscribers can read the entire story online by signing in here or in our e-Edition by clicking here.